Chase Elliott secured a remarkable win at the Hollywood Casino 400 after an unpredictable final lap at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, breaking his winless streak and earning a place in the Round of 8. The Chase Elliott Hollywood Casino 400 victory unfolded amid double overtime, showing Elliott’s resilience and the turmoil shaping the ongoing NASCAR Cup Series postseason.
Late-Race Action Sparks Unforgettable Finish
With just two laps left, Chase Elliott surged from 10th position following the last restart, capitalizing on a dramatic incident between Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace. Hamlin, who is both a racer for Joe Gibbs Racing and co-owner at 23XI Racing—Wallace’s team—collided with Wallace as he led under white-flag conditions. After hitting the wall, Wallace slipped back to fifth and remains perilously behind the playoff cutoff by 26 points.
Elliott’s triumph ended a 12-race drought, marked his 2025 postseason breakthrough, and secured Chevrolet’s first playoff victory this year. Elliott, starting fourth and leading multiple times for a total of 24 laps, clinched a hard-fought ticket to the next playoff round, ensuring intense anticipation for the races ahead.
“Everything worked out perfect for me,”
— Chase Elliott, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
The tense closing moments brought forth emotions that echoed through the crowd and among competitors, as playoff hopes shifted in seconds and drivers like Wallace and Elliott saw their seasons hang in the balance. As Elliott celebrated, he acknowledged both the performance and the good fortune that helped guide his finish.
“Hope you all enjoyed that. I certainly did. Really proud of our team.”
— Chase Elliott, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Fans, Drivers, and Teams React at Kansas Speedway
The energy at Kansas Speedway was unmistakable as Sunday’s race formed the centerpiece of the Round of 12. Fans flocked to the stands, the pre-race driver’s meeting drew attention, and teams prepared feverishly for every contingency.
Denny Hamlin set an early pace, overtaking Chase Briscoe on lap 20 and eventually claiming first in Stage 1. Tyler Reddick, however, faced persistent difficulties on pit road, battling setbacks that saw him lose significant track position during both the initial and later stages. These challenges demonstrated how fine the playoff margins could be for every contender, as teams like Reddick’s worked frantically to rectify each miscue.
Crashes Set the Stage for a Tumultuous Conclusion
With just two laps left on the board, Zane Smith’s dramatic incident caused a late caution and set up a high-stress, double-overtime restart. Smith managed to walk away from a harrowing tumble on the track, adding to the day’s tension and unpredictability.
“It was a wild ride, no doubt,”
— Zane Smith, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
The chaotic conclusion saw several top contenders shuffled as Elliott seized his opportunity, demonstrating why playoff racing is so often defined by late-stage drama and decisive moments.
The Wider Impact on the NASCAR Playoff Landscape
Chase Elliott’s Hollywood Casino 400 win instantly shifted the narrative heading into the playoff Round of 8. For Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin—each at the center of the day’s pivotal contact—this race delivered both heartbreak and further urgency ahead of the upcoming Charlotte road course finale. Hamlin’s early dominance showed his ongoing strength, but the late contact and shifting playoff standings bring added stakes as drivers adjust strategies for the rounds ahead.
Chevrolet’s return to Victory Lane in the postseason provided a morale boost for Elliott’s team, emphasizing both the competitive spirit and the intense volatility of NASCAR’s playoffs. The Round of 12 now builds to a crescendo with only one race remaining, the Charlotte event set to determine the final playoff standings and who will continue the championship hunt.
The significance of Elliott’s win at Kansas Speedway stretches beyond a single victory, signaling renewed momentum for both driver and manufacturer at a critical juncture in the season. The upcoming road course race promises further high-intensity action and unpredictable outcomes as the battle for the Cup continues.
Get up, it's race day!#HollywoodCasino400 pic.twitter.com/9gunpc4vgd
— Kansas Speedway (@kansasspeedway) September 28, 2025
#NASCAR … Cup drivers meeting class photo at Kansas pic.twitter.com/UJey19jhT7
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) September 28, 2025
@kansasspeedway fans are ready to go racing 🏁 pic.twitter.com/QWhudhEUsm
— Racing Electronics (@REradioz) September 28, 2025
A Round of 8 ticket is on the line this afternoon at @kansasspeedway!
The #HollywoodCasino400 is GREEN on USA! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/wKKG8OVPJs
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025
Trouble on pit road costs @TylerReddick all sorts of track position in Stage 1. @SteveLetarte takes a closer look at what happened to the No. 45. pic.twitter.com/7vrcVPvVCf
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025
No slowing down this No. 11 right now. @dennyhamlin takes the lead away from @chasebriscoe in Stage 1. pic.twitter.com/Yw6e0kaDK6
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025
Yet another issue for @TylerReddick on pit road!
He will start Stage 2 back in 28th place! https://t.co/Uzauwfsit8 pic.twitter.com/ESLrXhXPam
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025
A scary tumble on the restart 😳
Zane Smith exited the car after taking a scary tumble across the track on the restart. #NASCARPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/w3nHSQQeZn
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2025
THIS FINAL LAP WAS INSANE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/g9ctVJ1TPx
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2025
Have a day, @chaseelliott! 👏 pic.twitter.com/7jYmTQrpXc
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2025
A look at the updated #NASCARPlayoffs standings following @chaseelliott's win at @kansasspeedway. 👀 pic.twitter.com/6zqBGQr74Z
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2025
